Beverage Container and Shaker Combination

ABSTRACT

A beverage product has a beverage container having an upper rim with an outside diameter, a quantity of a beverage in the container, a substantially circular peel-off sealing element adhered by adhesive to the upper rim of the container, retaining the beverage in the container, and a shaker lid having a matrix of openings in a top for dispensing salt, pepper or other material, and an internal compartment of a first height and diameter, the internal compartment holding a sealed packet containing dry ingredients, the shaker lid, holding the sealed packet, being assembled over the upper rim of the container. A user purchasing the product removes the shaker lid exposing the internal compartment, removes the sealed packet, peels off the substantially circular peel-off sealing element, tears open the sealed packet, and consumes the beverage using also the dry ingredients.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application ofco-pending application 16/846,162, filed Apr. 10, 2020, and alldisclosure of the parent case is incorporated at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of containers forbeverages and pertains in one embodiment more particularly to a tallshot glass with an alcoholic beverage, and a top to convert to a salt orpepper shaker.

2. Description of Related Art

Shot glasses are well-known in the art. Shot glasses that may be filledwith an alcoholic beverage and sealed such that the filled and sealedglass may be marketed as a separate product are less well-known. A shotglass that is filled and sealed, and combined with a removable lid thatis adapted as a dispenser for salt or pepper, or both, or for anotherdispensable material, is not known by the inventor to be known in theart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the invention a beverage product is provided,comprising a beverage container having an upper rim with an outsidediameter, a quantity of a beverage in the container, a substantiallycircular peel-off sealing element adhered by adhesive to the upper rimof the container, retaining the beverage in the container, and a shakerlid having a matrix of openings in a top for dispensing salt, pepper orother material, and an internal compartment of a first height anddiameter, the internal compartment holding a sealed packet containingdry ingredients, the shaker lid, holding the sealed packet, beingassembled over the upper rim of the container. A user purchasing theproduct removes the shaker lid exposing the internal compartment,removes the sealed packet, peels off the substantially circular peel-offsealing element, tears open the sealed packet, and consumes the beverageusing also the dry ingredients.

In one embodiment the shaker lid has a top that is either domed or flat.Also, in one embodiment the container is a tall transparent shot glassand the beverage is tequila. In one embodiment the container is asingle-serve container mad of black ceramic, and the beverage is mezcal.And in one embodiment, after the beverage is consumed, the user placessalt, pepper or other material in the emptied container and reattachesthe shaker lid, rendering the combination as a salt or pepper shaker.

In one embodiment the container has a horizontal outward protuberance atthe upper rim, the shaker lid has a descending skirt having an openingat the bottom smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the upperrim of the container, a groove on the inside wall adapted to capture theprotuberance of the upper rim of the container, and an internal shoulderengaging the upper rim of the container, forming the internalcompartment, and wherein pressing the shaker lid downward onto thecontainer snaps the shaker lid into place by the groove. In oneembodiment the descending skirt is separated into a plurality ofindividual tabs. In one embodiment the product further comprises apeelable foil seal joined by an adhesive to the top of the lid, coveringthe perforations, wherein the foil seal is grasped by an edge and peeledfrom the top. In one embodiment the product further comprises a plasticcap adapted to snap over the shaker lid, covering the perforations suchthat the internal volume is protected from dust and debris. And in oneembodiment the plastic cap is pivoted by a hinge to the shaker lid onone side, and engages a snap clasp on the other side of the shaker lid,such that the plastic cap is opened and closed around the hinge.

In another aspect of the invention a method for producing a beverageproduct is provided, comprising filling a container having an upper rimwith an outside diameter with a quantity of a beverage, sealing thebeverage in the container by application of a substantially circularpeel-off sealing element with an adhesive, to an upper rim of the shotglass, and joining a shaker lid having a matrix of openings fordispensing salt, pepper or other material to the container holding thebeverage, the shaker lid further having an internal compartment of afirst height and diameter, the internal compartment holding a sealedpacket containing dry ingredients.

In one embodiment the method further a user removing the shaker lid,removing the seal from the container, exposing the beverage, removingthe sealed packet from the internal compartment, tearing open the sealedpacket, and consuming the beverage along with the dry ingredients. Alsoin one embodiment the method further comprises, after the beverage isconsumed, the user placing salt, pepper or other material in the emptiedcontainer and reattaching the shaker lid, rendering the combination as asalt or pepper shaker. In one embodiment the method further comprisesjoining a peelable foil seal by an adhesive to the top of the lid,covering the perforations such that the internal volume is protectedfrom dust and debris. And in one embodiment the method further comprisesplacing a plastic cap adapted to snap over the shaker lid over theshaker lid, covering the perforations such that the internal volume isprotected from dust and debris. In one embodiment the method comprisespivoting the plastic cap around a hinge on one side of the shaker lidand engaging a snap clasp on the other side of the shaker lid. Inanother aspect of the invention a beverage product is provided,comprising a single-serve black ceramic container having an upper rimwith an outside diameter, a quantity of a mezcal in the container, asubstantially circular peel-off sealing element adhered by adhesive tothe upper rim of the container, retaining the mezcal in the container,and a shaker lid having a matrix of openings in a top for dispensingsalt, pepper or other material, the shaker lid assembled over the top ofthe sealed black ceramic container. In one embodiment the top is eitherdomed or flat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tall shot glass associated withtequila.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shot glass of FIG. 1 filled with abeverage and having a top seal.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the shot glass of FIG. 1, with someapproximate dimensions.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shot glass like that of FIGS. 1-3,with a salt-shaker lid in place in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the salt-shaker lid of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a section view of the salt-shaker lid of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A illustrates a salt-shaker lid integrated with a peel-off sealfor a shot glass.

FIG. 6B is a section view of the lid of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a section view of a lid with a sealing element integratedwith the lid and applied by applying the lid.

FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the lid of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is an elevation view of a lid for a shot glass in anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a section view of the lid of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a foil packet shown in side view in FIG.8B.

FIG. 10A illustrates a lid having a foil seal added over the perforatedconvex dome of the lid.

FIG. 10B illustrate a lid with a plastic cap formed as an extra cover tosnap over the lid.

FIG. 10C illustrates a plastic cap having a hinge on one side of the lidand having a snap clasp on the other side.

FIG. 10D illustrates the hinged cap open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tall shot glass 100 associated withtequila. Glasses of this sort in the art are known to conform at leastapproximately to standard dimensions, and typically have a relativelythick base 103 which may help stabilize the shot glass in use. Theseglasses in the art are also quite often annotated as shown in area 102with names and artwork. Some are etched on the outside surface. Thedifferent sorts of indicia and surface treatments are quite extensive.

FIG. 2 illustrates shot glass 101 of FIG. 1 filled and sealed in anembodiment of the invention. Dotted line 203 is to represent the topsurface of a beverage, such as tequila, in the glass. A peel-off seal201 is sealed to the rounded top rim of glass 101 in this example. Thesealant is an adhesive known to be safe for sealing beverage containers,and in this case to be resistant to ethyl alcohol in a beverage in theglass. The material of the seal may be paper, metallic foil or any ofseveral kinds of plastic as are known in the art.

Peel-off seal 201 in this example has a tab 202 that a user may grasp topeel seal 201 from the upper lip of glass 101. This tab may be of aboutany convenient size, and there may in some circumstances be more thanone such tab.

FIG. 3 is a section view of shot glass 101 of FIG. 1, with someapproximate dimensions. In this example the height of the glass is 105mm, and the outside diameter of the upper rim is 42 mm. View 301 is amagnified view of the upper rim on one side, showing that there is arounded lip with a smaller diameter just under the lip. In this examplethe smaller diameter is 41.5 mm., which determines that the lip extendson one side by 0.25 mm, which in English measurement is about tenone-thousands of an inch. This quite a small dimension and isexaggerated in FIG. 3 to emphasize the fact of the shape of the lip. Inone embodiment of the present invention this rounded lip is exploitedfor a purpose of the invention.

It is to be understood that not every shot glass of the sort depicted inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 have dimensions that are exactly the same. Theinventor, having measured several such glasses with an electronicdigital caliper has discovered that there are dimensional differencesamong glasses made by different manufacturers, and even among differentgroups of glasses made by a same manufacturer. Be that as it may, theyall have the slight outward protuberance of the upper lip.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shot glass like that of FIGS. 1-3,with a salt-shaker lid 401 in place in an embodiment of the presentinvention. Lid 401 in this example has a somewhat convex domed top 402,and has a pattern of openings 403 that are sized for dispensing salt inone instance and pepper in another instance. In other embodiment top 402may be flat, and even slightly concave. Lid 401 is especially adapted tofit onto the upper rim of shot glass 101 by individual flexible clips404 in this example. Clips 404 may in some embodiments be implemented bycutting upward through the descending rim of the lid as shown at 405.

FIG. 5A is a side elevation view of lid 401 illustrating for examplethat convex domed top 402 extends above the rim of the lid. In otherembodiment the top may be, as described above, flat. FIG. 5B is asection view of lid 401taken along a vertical plane through the centerof the lid. The section view shows the outermost tabs 404 in this viewin section, illustrating a chamfered lead-in 407 that serves to flex thetabs outward as a user presses down on a lid to assemble the lid to ashot glass, and a circumferential shallow groove 406 molded on theinside of the lid. The outwardly extending lip of the shot glass,measured to be about .010 inch, is captured in this groove as a lid ispressed into place on the shot glass, securing the shaker lid in place.Again, top 402 is shown domed in this example, but may be flat.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a lid in an alternative embodiment in whichthere are no separate tabs and no cuts in the lid to implement suchtabs. Lid 601 still has a chamfered lead-in 607 and an insidecircumferential groove 606 to capture the lip of the upper rim of theshot glass. In the section view FIG. 6B the depth of the circumferentialgroove is exaggerated, and this groove need not in some implementationsbe more than about .005 inches deep. At that depth the groove would notactually show on the scale of FIG. 6B. Further, in FIG. 6A and B the topof the lid is domed, bat as previously described may be flat.

Referring back again to FIG. 4, it will be understood that with a lidlike that of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, there will be no cut lines in the lid.In one embodiment of the invention a process of the invention proceedsas follows. Firstly, shot glasses are cleaned, then filled with abeverage. In one embodiment the alcoholic beverage is a high-qualitytequila. Once filled, the filled glasses are sealed with a peel-off sealby adhesive as is known in the art, typically leaving a tag shown as tag202 in FIG. 2. After filling and sealing, a shaker cap of the sortdepicted in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B and described with reference tothese figures is pressed onto the glass and captured by the protrudinglip of the glass. The filled glasses with lids may be packaged fordistribution and sale. A user may remove the shaker lid, remove the seal201 by tab 202, and consume the beverage. Then the glass may be cleaned,filled with salt or pepper, or even another material that a user maywant to dispense, the lid replaced, and the glass becomes, with the lid,a shaker dispenser.

FIG. 7A illustrates another lid 701 in yet another embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a portion of the lid of FIG.7A. In this embodiment the lid is the same as shown and described withreference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. A seal 703 like peel-off seal 201 of FIG.2, without tab 202, is prepared and inserted into the underside of lid701 as shown in FIG. 7B. Prior to insertion an adhesive is appliedeither to a top side of seal 703 or to surface 704 on the underside oflid 701, or both. Seal 703 has adhesive on the underside where the sealwill meet the upper lip of the shot glass. Seal 703 is inserted into theunderside of the lid and seals to the lid. Then the lid is assembled tothe shot glass with the seal in place on the lid, and the seal in thelid seals the shot glass to retain the alcoholic beverage.

The adhesive applied to the upper side of the seal to adhere to theunderside of the lid, or to the underside of the lid to capture the sealin the lid, is a stronger adhesive than the adhesive of the seal thatadheres to the upper rim of the shot glass. Therefore, when the lid isremoved by a user who has purchased a shot glass with the lid, the sealstays with the lid, and is pulled from the upper rim of the shot glass.The seal may later be removed from the inside of the lid, so the lid maybe reapplied to render the shot glass, with the lid, as a shakerdispenser.

In another aspect of the invention a beverage product is provided as asealed shot glass containing a beverage, having a shaker lid perforatedfor dispensing such as salt or pepper, such that after the seal isremoved and the beverage is consumed, the glass with the shaker lid maybe used as a shaker dispenser. In one embodiment there is further ashaker lid that is implemented in a way that a compartment is formedabove the seal over the shot glass and under the upper surface of theshaker lid, and a packet holding typically dry ingredients is carried inthe compartment. In this embodiment a user may remove the shaker lid,remove and open the packet, remove the seal over the shot glass, and usethe dry ingredients in the process of consuming the beverage.

In one embodiment the beverage may be tequila and the packet may containsalt, a dried citrus juice, such as perhaps lime, or a mixture of both.In other embodiments the beverage may be just about any beverage forwhich ingredients might be added by a user, and the packet may containany ingredients that are suitable for consuming with the beverage. Oneexample may be coffee and the dry ingredients may be coffee lightener orsugar or artificial sweetener or a mixture. In another embodiment thebeverage may be coffee, and the packet may contain an additional chargeof caffeine to be used at the user's discretion. Again, the top is shownas a convex dome, but may be flat.

FIG. 8A is a side elevation view of a lid 801 with a perforated top 802that may domed as shown or flat. Lid 801 has slots 805 implementedupward in the descending rim 804 similar to the construction of lid 401in FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B. Lid 801 is seen to be of a greater verticalheight than lid 401. This additional height is due to internalconstruction that implements a compartment in the interior of the lid.

FIG. 8B is a section view of lid 801 taken along a vertical planethrough the center of the lid. Section view 8B shows the outermost tabs804, showing a chamfered lead-in 807 that serves to flex the tabsoutward as a user presses down on a lid to assemble the lid to a shotglass, and a circumferential shallow groove 806 molded on the inside ofthe lid. The outwardly extending lip of the shot glass, measured to beabout 0.010 inch, is captured in this groove as a lid is pressed intoplace on the shot glass, securing the shaker lid in place.

Lid 801 has an internal shoulder 807 that engages the top rim of theshot glass when the lid is applied. An internal volume 809 is formedinside the lid, above the position of the seal of the shot glass, of aheight “d”. In different embodiment height “d” may be from aboutone-eighth inch to as much as one-half inch. Compartment 809 is intendedto enclose a foil packet of dry ingredients, as described above.

In the embodiments of the invention incorporating lid 801, the sealedcontainer is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, containing a beverage.Products may be prepared using either lid 401 or 801 in differentcircumstances.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a foil packet 810 shown in side view inFIG. 8B. Packet 810 is made of aluminum foil in one embodiment, whichmay be coated with plastic or another film. Two rectangular pieces offilm are sealed along outside edges 811 in this example. The packet inother embodiments may be round or of other shapes as well. Therectangular pieces are shaped before joining in this example to providean internal volume as shown by curvature 812 of the outside walls. Inone example three edges are sealed, then dry ingredients are placed inthe internal volume, and the final edge is sealed. In some embodimentpictures, text and other indicia may be added to the outside of thepacket.

In a process of preparing a product a container may be filled with abeverage, and the upper seal may be added (see FIG. 2). A packet 810holding dry ingredients may be placed on the top over the seal, and thenlid 801 may be pressed into place. A user who purchases the product mayremove lid 801 and set aside packet 810. The user may then peel the sealfrom the container, then tear open the packet 810 and add the dryingredients to the beverage, then consume the beverage along with theadded ingredients. In one example the product may have the shot glassfilled with tequila, and the packet may hold salt and a dried citruspowder (a little salt and lime).

A number of other combinations are possible. For example, the beveragemay be coffee and the dry ingredients may be sugar or an artificialsweetener, or a combination of both. As another example the beverage maybe coffee and the packet may have a material rich in caffeine, enablingthe user to adjust the amount of caffeine in the coffee. There are alarge range of possibilities.

FIG. 10A illustrates a lid 801 having a foil seal 813 added over theperforated top of the lid. A purpose is to prevent dust or other debrisfrom entering the lid through the perforations, between manufacture anduse. The foil seal 813 has an extension 814 to one side that provides afingerhold for a user to remove the seal from the top of the lid. FIG.10B illustrate a lid 801 with a plastic cap 815 formed as an extra coverto snap over the lid. Accomplishing the same purpose as seal 813.

FIG. 10C illustrates a plastic cap 816 having a hinge 817 on one side oflid 801 and having a snap clasp 818 on the other side, such that cap 816may be opened to expose the perforations in the lid to enable dispensingsalt or pepper. The hinged lid is closed in FIG. 10C. FIG. 10Dillustrates hinged lid 816 open.

The inventor has made it clear in this disclosure that beverages,containers and additional ingredients may be widely varied. The skilledperson is aware, for example, that tequila is made from the agave plant,native to hotter regions of the Americas. Another beverage made fromagave is called mezcal, which differs from tequila by the way that ismade. Tequila is typically produced by steaming the agave insideindustrial ovens before being distilled two or three times in copperpots. Mezcal, on the other hand, is cooked inside earthen pits that arelined with lava rocks and filled with wood and charcoal before beingdistilled in day pots.

Every tequila is considered a mezcal but not every mezcal is tequila.Mezcal is mainly produced in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. Oaxaca isknown for its mezcal, its black ceramic used for single serve and othercontainers, and its food. Recently Casamigos™ and other tequila brandshave branched out to include mezcals At the time of filing this patentapplication mezcal is gaining popularity. Therefore, in anotherembodiment of the invention a product is provided wherein the containeris not glass but ceramic, and in one embodiment black ceramic. In thisembodiment the beverage is mezcal processed as described above. In theproduct with mezcal there is still a shaker lid added to the sealedcontainer of beverage, enabling the container to be reused as a shakerdispenser.

The embodiments described here are exemplary only, and not limiting tothe scope of the invention. Embodiment of the invention may beimplemented using any of the examples described, or any combination ofthe examples described. Further, it is to be understood that a widevariety of beverages may be used, and a wide variety of beveragecontainers as well. The invention is not limited to shot glasses or toglass containers but may be implemented with containers of other shapesand sizes.

The scope of the invention is limited only by the breadth of the claims.

1. A beverage product, comprising: a beverage container symmetrical about around a central vertical axis and having an upper rim with an inside diameter and an outside diameter; a rounded lip extending outward around an entire circumference of the upper rim; a quantity of a beverage in the container; a substantially circular peel-off sealing element adhered by adhesive to the upper rim of the container, retaining the beverage in the container; a circular shaker lid of a single contiguous material having an overall height from a lowermost point to an uppermost point, an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the upper rim of the beverage container, an internal shoulder with an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of the upper rim and an inside diameter equal to or less than the inside diameter of the upper rim, the internal shoulder is at a height from the lowermost point less than the overall height of the shaker lid, a descending skirt around the circumference of the shaker lid, the descending skirt having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of the upper rim and greater than the inside diameter of the upper rim, the descending skirt separated by a plurality of vertical slots into a plurality of individual flexible tabs of a same height equally spaced around a circumference of the descending skirt, each individual flexible tab chamfered from a lowermost edge of the flexible tab at the outside diameter of the shaker lid upward to the inside diameter of the descending skirt in a distance less than the height of the flexible tab, an internal circumferential groove extending outward from the inside diameter of the descending skirt at the height of the internal shoulder, the internal groove of a height and depth to enclose the rounded lip of the upper rim of the beverage container, a cylindrical vertical bore of a diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of the beverage container, the cylindrical vertical bore extending upward from the height of the internal shoulder for a distance of from one eighth inch to one half inch, the cylindrical vertical bore forming a cylindrical volume above the height of the internal shoulder up to an underside of a top of the shaker lid, the top having a matrix of openings for dispensing salt or pepper; and a sealed packet containing material to be mixed with the beverage, the sealed packet of overall dimensions to fit within the cylindrical volume of the cylindrical vertical bore in the shaker lid; wherein the sealed packet is placed on the circular peel off element sealing the upper rim of the beverage container and the shaker lid is placed over the upper rim and urged downward, the chamfered lead in of the flexible tabs serving to flex to tabs outward until the internal groove captures the rounded lip extending outward from the upper rim of the beverage container and the internal shoulder meets the upper rim of the beverage container, retaining the shaker lid on the beverage container and capturing the sealed packet in the cylindrical volume of the vertical bore of the shaker lid.
 2. The beverage product of claim 1 wherein the rounded lip extending outward around an entire circumference of the upper rim of the shaker lid has a radius of 0.25 mm.
 3. The beverage product of claim 1 wherein the beverage container is a transparent shot glass and the beverage is tequila.
 4. The beverage product of claim 1 wherein the beverage container is a single-serve container made of black ceramic, and the beverage is mezcal. 5-7. (canceled)
 8. The beverage product of claim 1 further comprising a peelable foil seal joined by an adhesive to the top of the shaker lid, covering the matrix of openings.
 9. The beverage product of claim 1 further comprising a plastic cap adapted to snap over the top of the shaker lid, covering the matrix of openings such that the internal volume is protected from dust and debris.
 10. The beverage product of claim 9 wherein the plastic cap is pivoted by a hinge to the shaker lid on one side, and engages a snap clasp on the other side of the shaker lid, such that the plastic cap is opened and closed around the hinge. 11-18. (canceled) 